Safety bank-check



(No Model.)

M. A. DREW. SAFETY BANKCHEGK.

y Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MANNIN G A. DREW, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY BAN K-CH EC K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,106, dated March 22, 1892. Application iilecl May 19, 1891. Serial No. 893,263. (No specimens.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANNING A. DREW, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Bank-Checks, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure lis a plan view of my improved safety bank-check, the body of the check being represented as separated from the stub; and Fig. 2, a like view showing the application of the system to a deposit-slip.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially to means for preventing alterations in the amounts indicated on checks, deposit-slips, hotel-checks, dto., after having been made; and it consists in certain novel features, hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simple, cheap, and effective device of this character.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation:

In Fig. l of the drawings, A represents the body of the check, andB the stub. The faces of the check and stub are imprinted with the name of the bank, date, and amount spaces in the ordinary manner. The check is counected with its stub by a sheetC, the face of said sheet being divided by vertical and transverse lines h CZ into spaces z. Verticalcolumns are thus formed, which are indicated, as shown in Fig. l, by the words units, tens, hundreds, and thousauds three columns being in the present instance employed for each denomination. In the set of three columns denominatedthousands the nine digits are arranged, reading transversely from left to right 3 2 1, in the first transverse line, 6 5 Ll respectively disposed in the spaces h directly below the first three numerals, and 9 8 7 in the third transverse line below the second set of three numerals.

A like arrangement of digits is imprinted in the second three columns denominated hundreds,and like arrangements in the third and fourth columns denominated, respectively, tens and unitsj each block of digits being arranged vertically below and at the right of the preceding block, so that the series runs diagonally from the upper left-hand corner of the sheet O to thelower right-hand corner. For convenience, at the top of each block of digits, excepting that of the highest denomination, a zero is imprinted in each of the three vertical columns. The lines b d, forming the yspaces h, andthe line t, separating the check from the sheet O, may be indented or perforated, if desired, to enable said sheet to be more readily torn on said lines. `The name of the payee and amount payable being iilled out on the face of the check-body A and stub B in the ordinary manner, the sheet C is torn or cut ou the liu es b d in such way that the numeralin the lower outer corner of that portion of each block of numerals which is left on the part of the sheet C attached to the check-bodyA when read consecutively will indicate theamountfor which said check is drawn. For example, the check represented in Fig. 1 is drawn for fifteen hundred and forty-eight dollars and seventy-three cents ($1,548.73.) The maker in separating the check from the stub cuts the sheet O vertically downward and laterally in such manner that the numeral l of the block of digits in the thousands-column is separated from the remainder of its block. The lateral dividing-line is continued until it meets the vertical dividing-line on the first column of the hundreds-block, which is continued downward and the sheet again cut transversely, separating the numeral 5 from its block. The division is continued, separating the numeral 4: in the tens-block and 8 in the unit-block, thus showing in the lower outer corners of the notches of that portion of the sheet C which remains attached to the body of the check that said check has been drawn for one thousand five hundred and forty eight dollars ($1,548.00.) The corresponding spacesy left on that portion of the sheet C attached to the stub B show at once that such numerals have been removed. The stub may be provided with divisions for indicating cents, if desired; but it is not deemed IOO essential. It will be seen that by arranging the digits as described, and the digits in the corners on the sheet portion remaining attached to the check-body being employed to indicate the amount, that said amount can not be raised or made larger by tearing olf any of the numerals after the check has been separated from its stub; and that in such case the removal of any numerals from the sheet portion left on the stub would indicate a larger amount than that for which the check was drawn. The arrangement of the numerals in each of the blocks may be varied so long as they read from the largest numeral at the left to the smallest numeral at the right, and said blocks are arranged diagonally on the sheet, as described. I find it more convenient, however, to arrange said numerals in squares of three numerals on a side in the manner shown.

In Fig. 2 a deposit-slip I) is connected with a duplicate or stub slip E by the sheet C. In this application of the system the numerals are arranged in each blockin diametrically-opposite order from that described for the cheek, the smaller numerals being disposed in the lower transverse line of each block and reading in their natural order from left to right. The total amount indicated on the deposit slip and stub is twenty-five thousand three hundred and sixty-tour dollars and eightynine cents, ($25,364.89) which amount is also shown at a glance on that portion of the sheet C remaining on the deposit-slip Din the same manner as on the check. The reversal of the numerals for use on said deposit-slip is for the purpose that should any of said numerals be cut from the slip portion of the sheet C after it is separated from its stub it will of necessity indicate a larger amount than the face of said slip, thus preventing said amount from being reduced. The system, as described, may be applied in like manner to checks for any purpose, as for use in restaurants, hotels, and similar places, preventing any change in the check after having been separated from its stub and before its return. Books for use by savings banks and similar institutions may also be prepared by the same system,\vhereby danger from oiiicials or others entering false amounts in either the books of the bank or the pass-book may be guarded against. Any number of divisions may be formed on the sheet C, to include fractional parts of amounts, or other symbols may be substituted for the numerals in the spaces on said sheets. These sheets C may also be interposed between the stubs and certiiicates of stock certificate books to guard against raising and over-issues of stock and are applicable to pay-rolls and for similar uses.

It will be understood that I do not confine myself to connecting the stub to the cheek by sheet C at the left of said checks, as, if deemed necessary for convenience, it may be attached at either of the other three sides, in which ease the diagonal arrangement of the blocks of numerals would be varied to conform,but the arrangement of the numerals in said blocks would remain the same in relation to the stub.

It will be further understood that the use of the dividing-lines h (l is not essential; nor do I confine myself to such use, as the digits arranged in lblocks, as described, and imprinted in series diagonally of the sheet would serve the saine purpose. The lines b CZ are, however, convenient as guide-lines in tearing the sheet, and I therefore deem their use preferable.

Having thus explained lny invention, what I claim is*- A check or other paper representing value comprising a body and stub connected by a sheet, numerals imprinted on said sheet and arranged in groups or blocks, each consisting of the nine digits, said blocks being arranged diagonally of the sheet, substantially as described.

MANNING A. DREW.

lVitnesses:

"K. DURFEE,

O. M. SHAW. 

